I used to think my little corner of urban England was somewhere I could get away from the stress and strain of modern-day life — until they moved in next door. There are two of them. They are white, woolly and probably have sharp teeth as well as loud bark. But every time their constant barking interrupts my sleep, I remind myself that, in many respects, I am lucky. The neighbors don’t hold all-night parties, nor do they shout or throw crockery at each other, and though their dogs may bark, they don’t bite.

According to a recent consumer magazine report on “nightmare neighbors”, dogs are the fifth most common source of bad relations between neighbors. Noise of any description heads the list of complaints, followed by DIY enthusiasts, parking quarrelling, and arguments over house extensions.

So what alternatives are there? One is to take legal action. But this can be time-consuming and expensive and does nothing to improve already difficult relationships. The other alternatives are to sell up and go, or to try to reach a solution with the help of someone neutral. Mediation UK— the United Nations equivalent of garden fence conflicts — was set in 1984 to help resolve community disagreements.

In most cases, the lack of communication is found the main cause of conflict. David Nation of Plymouth Mediation points to poor public housing and widespread unemployment as additional factors. He also reports more cases of complaints from people who live in flats. Large houses built in the nineteenth century and designed as single-occupation family homes have, he says, been changed into flats with little or no attention to sound insulation. Dividing walls are paper thin and hardly block out sound at all.

Buyers can also be put off by the external appearance of neighboring houses. Anything from wild, uncared for gardens to unusual external color schemes can put off buyers — even though the offending property is next door. But it could be worse. John Gladden, of Norbury in Surrey upset his neighbors in St Oswald’s Road by mounting a huge fish in fiberglass (玻璃纤维) and putting it on the roof of his house. The local council argued that he should have got planning permission; residents thought the fish did nothing to improve the appearance of the neighborhood, and war broke out. Sightseers poured in and homes near the suburban property can now be hard to sell.

Thanks for your interest in visiting the Los Angeles Zoo with your school group! Please read the following information before booking your field trip.

Requirements

Special discounted admission prices are available with advance reservations ONLY for California school groups, short-termed as CSG, (registered with the California Department of Education). They can enjoy 10% off.

PLEASE NOTE:

Reservation blackout dates(限制日期) may apply to all groups at certain times of the year (e.g. holidays and spring break). If your group comes on a blackout date or has not made the necessary reservations before arriving at the Zoo, your group will be charged the regular admission fees.

Docent(讲解员)-Guided Tours

Our docent guides lead educational walking tours for students and their teachers, beginning at first grade. A limited number of docent-guided tours are available. There is no additional fee for a docent-guided tour, but you must book your tour at least two weeks in advance. Do not assume you have a guided tour booked until you have received a confirmation number and packet from the Los Angeles Zoo. On the day of your field trip, your group will need to arrive at least 30 minutes before the confirmed start time of your tour to check in. Make sure to tell Zoo staff upon your arrival that your group has a docent-guided tour. If you are more than 15 minutes late for your tour, it may be canceled.

Maximum number: 150 participants Ages: K-12

Regular Pricing: $5 per student, 1 teacher per 10 students is included, $5 per additional teacher

Afternoon tea traditions date back to 1840 Britain. The meal tends to combine sweet and tasty dishes alongside some delicious tea. Here are some hotels offering the most wonderful afternoon teas.

The Plaza, New York City

The Plaza has been known for years for its afternoon tea offerings. You can order teas like English breakfast, Chinese green tea, and oolong tea. You can select a variety of pastries (糕点) and sandwiches that will all be served on elegant china.

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, India

This hotel is popular with a particular group of people for its afternoon tea. You can see ships on the harbor on the Arabian sea and local Indian dishes are served along with traditional English tea time favorites.

Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria, Canada

Fairmont Empress Hotel serves up to 21 different teas. Afternoon tea is served in the hotel that includes live music played on the baby grand piano. Their teatime tradition has existed since 1908 and serves about 80,000 guests per year.

Victoria Falls Hotel, Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe, served on a lovely outdoor terrace (露天平台), is a member of the leading hotels of the world. It has amazing views of Victoria Falls Bridge. It was built in 1904 by the British and features beautiful lawns and gardens right by the Zambezi River. Afternoon tea is served from 3 pm until 6 pm.